Some of the most interesting additions to Android often come from unofficial sources. Maligned though they may be, Google has incorporated many features previously only found in manufacturer skins into AOSP, and custom ROM developers add new features more or less as they feel like it, some of which are quite useful. For example, the CyanogenMod development team is working on a new integrated system for handling "locked" apps, applications that can't be accessed by the user without a password or other validation mechanism.

Time to dust off your old phones. That Droid 4 in the back of your drawer, that Droid Bionic in the shoe box in your garage, and those RAZR and Droid RAZR that you can't even remember hiding or throwing away, they've all gotten a fresh breath of air. If you own of these you've probably scoured XDA's forums for months and found several custom ROMs based on Marshmallow for them, but if you prefer the CyanogenMod flavor in your ROMs then today is the day you can start flashing it.

But that's not all. Other devices are getting their first CyanogenMod 13 nightlies with Android 6.0 as well.

After being part of CyanogenMod for two years, the end of the road has come for WhisperPush. The project announced today that it would end support for its own implementation of the secure messaging protocol developed by Open Whisper Systems.

The Galaxy Nexus is nearly as old as the Nook Tablet that CyanogenMod resurrected a couple of days ago with CM13, but it won't be getting that fresh of a software update. It'll have to do with a slightly older version of Android, but any third-party development on this forgotten Nexus is a welcome change from the state that Google left it in.

Officially, the Galaxy Nexus was abandoned at Android Jelly Bean 4.3. When KitKat was released in September 2013, two years into the Galaxy Nexus' lifespan, the phone wasn't deemed worthy of the new dessert flavor (allegedly due to the TI chip), but CyanogenMod's team of zealous and reckless developers braved the elements and kept supporting it with CM11 nightlies and snapshots.

The team, which has recently revived similarly forgotten hardware such as the Galaxy S III, Nexus 4, and Nexus 10, is back at it with the Nook Tablet. The first CM 13 nightly, based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, is already available for download. Like other CM13 ROMs, it weighs about 250MB and you'll need to grab a corresponding GApps package to get all of your Google services and apps running.

The HTC One A9 was HTC's first device to ship with Android Marshmallow, but despite a relatively clean version of Sense, there's still reason to want to flash a custom ROM. Maybe you want the genuine stock Android look. Maybe you want to cut down on the number of pre-installed apps. Either way, you now have the option to flash CyanogenMod and keep Android 6.0 thanks to the arrival of CM 13 nightly builds.

CyanogenMod has been breathing fresh and 'mallow-tasting air into the lungs and ROMs of abandoned devices. The Galaxy S III practically returned from the dead after receiving the kiss of the CM 13 nightly, the Nexus 4 that was left behind by Google strapped on its big boy shoes and sprinted to the new version, and now it's the Nexus 10's turn to receive some chest compressions and get resurrected.

Despite being abandoned by Google in its round of official Marshmallow updates, the Nexus 10 is still a decent tablet that's loved by many of its owners. Spec-wise, it's no Pixel C, but it does have an awesome and big screen that makes it perfect for media consumption.

Cyanogen Inc. started sending out Cyanogen OS 12.1.1 to the OnePlus One earlier this week. This update is notable as it's the first build that comes with Microsoft Cortana built-in. It turns out that's not the only Microsoft integration. The file opening dialog also seems to be suggesting Microsoft apps even if you don't have them installed.

Cyanogen Inc is rolling out Cyanogen OS 12.1.1 for the OnePlus One today, and it's not just any update. This is the first version of Cyanogen OS with support for Microsoft Cortana baked right in. After Microsoft finally made Cortana official for other phones, then removed the always listening feature, the OnePlus One is rather unique.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is scheduled to get Marshmallow eventually, but some models only received Android 5.1.1 in October, meaning most customers are in for quite the wait. Even when the changes do arrive, they may ultimately taste quite a bit like TouchWiz, and that's not a flavor everyone likes having on their tongue.